At some point, every one of us has packed a little too much for a tripβ¦ 6 pairs of shoes, 5 pairs of pants, and more than 10 tops? Not to mention skincare, accessories, makeup, and all the other things you might need. But letβs be realβoverpacking can be quite a hassle, not to mention it can be expensive in baggage fees. So letβs dive into these tips you can use to avoid overpacking when traveling.
Use packing cubes or organizers
This tip is extra useful if youβre traveling with a carry-on only. Using packing cubes not only makes everything fit seamlessly in your bag, but it makes everything so much more organized. My recommendation is to organize your items based on the clothing category or outfits youβll wear. So, one of the cubes can contain all your tops, another can contain all the underwear, and so on.
Bring makeup products that are multi-purpose
A way to minimize your makeup bags is by prioritizing products that have different functions or that can be used in different ways. For example, you can use lipstick as blush, bronzer as eyeshadow, and an eyebrow pencil as eyeliner.
Make a checklist
Before packing, make a checklist of all the things youβll actually need. If you skip this step youβll be more likely to unnecessary items and thereβs a chance youβll forget something.
Get a compact jewelry organizer
If you love jewelry, you totally need this! It was a total game-changer for me. Not only will it save you space, but none of your necklaces will tangle. This is the jewelry organizer I have used for the past 4 years, it still looks like new and it is a bit smaller than my hand.
You only need three pairs of shoes
You really, really donβt need more than three pairs of shoes. One pair for walking, one pair for nicer occasions, and maybe a pair of sandals or flip-flops, depending on the weather of your destination. The key here is to wear the bulkiest pair on the plane to save even more space.
Get travel-sized products or containers
I absolutely love skincare. So when it comes to traveling, my skincare and makeup bag tends to be the heaviest and bulkiest. I often carried skincare items with me that I didnβt even end up having time to use β like face masks or ice rollers.
It is worth it to invest in the travel-sized versions of whatever products you use. However, not all skincare products have travel-sized versions, in that case, you should get travel-size containers.
Roll your clothes instead of folding them
Rolling your clothes instead of folding them can free up a surprising amount of suitcase real estate. Plus, it minimizes wrinkles. Win-win!
Mix & match your clothes
Ten pieces of clothing can make tons of outfits! But the secret is to choose neutrals and items of clothing that will look good with whatever youβre planning to wear. Try to make all of the clothing youβre packing to match. Youβll able to make tons of cute outfits with less clothing and thatβs a win-win.
Another tip is to pack more tops than bottoms β theyβre usually lighter and smaller and youβll have more outfit options.
Related: 8 Style Rules That Will Make Your Life Easier
Think twice before packing each item
I think I NEED to take everything with me when packing βjust in caseβ. Which obviously leads to overpacking.
Always remember to think twice when youβre packing something. Ask yourself if youβre really going to use/wear it. And if the answer is βI mightβ¦β then you probably wonβt.
Youβll be able to do laundry
If youβre traveling for a few weeks or for over a month, donβt make the mistake of packing a ton of extra clothing. You are going to be able to do laundry wherever you are! Even if you donβt want to pay for laundry, you can always buy detergent and wash your own clothes at the hotel. Iβve definitely done this before, it is annoying but so convenient!
Bring a luggage scale
A luggage scare is something worth investing in if you want to dodge those excess weight fees. Not only will it save you money, but it also spares you the awkward ordeal of frantically opening your overstuffed suitcase in the middle of the airport, trying to figure out what to wear or stuff into your carry-on, just to avoid the $100 fee.
There are different types of luggage scales, but I personally like the ones with a strap you can put around your luggage handle and lift.
Wear bulky and heavy items when traveling
By this I mean you should wear the heaviest or bulkiest clothes on the plane if they a) Donβt fit in your bag or b) Youβve already reached your bagβs weight limit but youβre dying to take that special piece of clothing. The solution is to wear it!
There were a handful of times when I wore a bunch of layers on the airplane. It looked like I was doing the 100 clothing layer challenge, but it worked! I didnβt have to pay for overweight, which can be super expensive depending on the airline.
This is super useful not only when youβre about to start a trip but when youβre coming back home and you bought lots of things and they donβt fit in your suitcases anymore.
Let me know if you have other tips to avoid overpacking when traveling β would love to try them out!
